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Although it may be "normal" to go every 2-3 days ( I do) it is more ideal to go every day. If I could get to that point I would be happy! I'm currently working on it by trying to implement more Fiber into my diet. I believe @@BLERDgirl has the right idea. She's also a vegetarian, so her diet is more ideal for the digestive system. Oh, and for the OP and anyone else who struggles to go, I have 2 words for you: Squatty Potty. Look it up, then go buy one. You'll thank me.

I had been leaning to vegetarian life style but since I had lap band 4 years ago I have pretty much gone all the way. I do eat small amounts of chicken if I make my family Chicken Noodle soup and some other soups just because I cook for my husband. I really like the vegie patties that Cosco has. It was not frozen but I divided up the patties and froze them. I get plenty of protein with my protein shake and my main other source of protein is beans. I also take a vitamin D and B12 suppliment in the morning. I find I can tolerate the vegetarian lifestyle better. I read a lot of Dr McDougals info that he has on his site and have his book. Any way you look at it losing weight can be tough.

.I had my sleeve done on May third. I am 60 and have been in menopause for 8 years. I have never been heavy til menopause happened. 3 weeks before my surgery i started my pre diet. I ate 540 calories a day of protein and very low carbs. On my surgery day I had only lost 1 pound :(. I feel that with age also comes the slower metabolism. I am doing okay with the weight lose. I am a vegetarian, so it is interesting not getting to eat any fruit. But I am sticking to the strict diet given by my doctor. Only 1/4 cup a meal. I have been lift 5 pound arm weights as I know my arms are going to have alot of excess skin. It is strange to see my skin as it appears I am like a deflating ballon :). It is alot to get used to. My fatique is off the chart, but I am doing the best I can. One day at a time

-------------------------------------------It's by Natures Way called Alive! Whole food energizer I bought a large one 30 fl oz as it was on sale for $20.00 and the sales person told me he drinks that one daily and he really liked it and feels good. You take 1 Fluid once(30ml) shot daily. It's a citrus flavor( but I still say yuk! But not too bad) and vegetarian(I'm not a vegetarian either) It's all fruit, veggies, and green foods I woke up feeling tired and with headache but made it my goal to get all my vitamins in today. I took all my vitamins and honestly feel so much better this even. I have to admit when I was at the Vitamin Shoppe I felt overwhelmed with so many options to chose from, but told the fella what I needed and what for. My favorite one is the Omega w/vitamin D3 I thought would leave a fishy flavor but on contrary tasted like lemon and left a nice lemony flavor. My calcium w/D3 also tasted citrusy and good. One thing I didn't care to learn was we cannot return if open, but if we must return unopened we get store credit, unlike GNC they allow us to return opened. Hope this helps : )

49 yearsss?! wow thats a long time. Good for you! I know some people just enjoy it more. I usually make everything from scratch anyways but I feel like being a vegetarian helps keep the cals down. Something to potentially look into again...

I don't think its bored but maybe I could use a change. Ironically last night I was watching YouTube videos about the vegan diet. A couple years ago I was a vegetarian but it only lasted a year before I caved. How long have you been vegan? Has it been tough after wls?

Out of curiosity are the soups you are eating carb heavy? Carbs are a concern of mine because I'm a vegetarian HW 341 SW 298 DOSW 286 CW 271 DOS 08/09/16

I am one of those people who really try to practice moderation in eating. I have very few true "red light" foods, although, i do have some that I just keep out of the house, and will eat now and then outside the house.(brownies, oreos, potatoe chips... are devils to me!) I can clearly see I like to "treat" myself to celebrate, cake for birthdays, LEFTOVER cake from birthdays, when I go out for a fun day, like hiking or kayaking, I bring a little gourmet lunch, especially if I am sharing with someone...a trip to Whole foods bakery really ups the calories. When I had my regain (22pounds) it took place over a stretch of time that I was "celebrating", vacationing in a foodie town, had visiting relatives who brought happy hour with them for 10 weeks.... and then came holidays. I also had an injury that kept me from the gym and dance class. The perfect storm. I took a blind "break" from my moderation, and bang. Eventually I got into a routine (thanks to Georgia who discovered the 5:2), a great support system here, knee recovery, and getting back to moderation. The only way I can judge what is moderate is by weighing myself and writing everything down I eat. Then on days where I celebrate, or cave in to stress eating or find only thing on the menu for a vegetarian to eat is french fries or pasta...I mostly make sure that the week balances out if the day doesn't. I think thats why moderate fasting two times a week(5-600 cals in the evening) helps me so much... as part of a balancing act. I do enjoy celebrating with food, but not so much if I do it every day, it loses its celebratory feel and turns into addiction. I still want to eat it, but it doesn't satisfy anymore. I also have a bounce range that sends me the warning that I need to watch it for a day or three...or a week or three.... not that easy to take those gained pounds off sometimes. But here I am at goal. (admittedly at the high end of the bounce range...but yesterday I went kayaking with my husband, brought a gourmet lunch including pastries from Wholefoods, and then went dancing and out to dinner for veggie sushi for my birthday weekend...) I do get tired of having to keep track so much of the time... but really its a bargain tradeoff for getting and staying at goal...AND I do get to hang out with a bunch of nice ladies and gents who get where I'm coming from....here. Thanks!... and are there real plateaus and comfort zones??? Hell yes!

Hello, My surgeon and his team basically have prescribed a vegan based diet following bariatric surgery. I was sleeved on 03/01/16 and have been following this diet as much as I can. I am struggling somewhat but wanted to know how others have done on this type of diet. I have been vegetarian before -throughout my teenage years, but as of late I find myself wanting to be completely raw. Not sure if that's due to it already reaching 100 degrees in Texas or if it's me being lazy. Any one else in the same boat? Thank you. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Look under the Forum tab for the Food and Nutrition Forum. There is a sub Forum for Vegan/vegetarian the 4th down.

Heya thanks for your reply. I've just discovered this forum and don't know which vegetarian vegan section you're referring to

For me the only food restrictions I have are self imposed. I don't eat much bread, white rice, regular pasta, crackers, etc... I'm vegetarian so I don't eat beef, poultry, fish or pork but everything I like I can eat with no problems. I don't eat a lot of processed foods or fast foods. Spicy foods are no trouble. I put hot sauce on darn near everything

I guess I am the opposite. I would have really never eaten a burger before surgery. I was pretty close to vegetarian. I just really did not eat alot of meat. Well that changed. I still eat alot of veggie meat products like morning star chicken patties and sausage patties. My new fave meal is a turkey burger with cheese wrapped in lettuce with mustard, tomato and a little pickle relish. So good!!

This is very interesting. I wonder if pre surgery I was Protein deficient. Even during periods of pre op life when I logged, the focus was only on calories. I had never given protein intake a second thought. Probably didn't help my already out of control appetite. As a vegetarian, meeting protein goals post op has been like a full time job. I have learned a whole new way of meal prep and can make some awesome mock meat now. One of the million advantages of losing weight is that my minimum protein goal has dropped to 45g per day, so much more manageable and most days I easily exceed that.

If you don't have a problem with soy...tofu, very high protein replacement that is versatile, my favorite is super firm. Otherwise hemp and pea powders for shakes. I'm no longer a strict vegetarian, I'm a flexitarian these days because it became too rigourous trying to stay in weightloss mode while eating (higher carb) replacements so I decided to continue my usual ovo lacto pescaterian diet and allow poultry when the occasion called for it (no other available foods) Good Luck 💜

I'm headed to mexico for my surgery. Where did you Go? Do they have any post-op protocols or someone you can contact with your current concerns? Did they have you speak with a nutritionist pre-op to clarify vegetarian options?

I was sleeved 10/25 and I'm down about 40+ pounds. I'm officially into the soft foods phase but I'm still struggling with my Protein. Being a "born again" vegetarian has made it more challenging and protein shakes/powders make me ill. If anyone else is on MFP you can find me there as serenity_lynn

Neil, you can do it! I'm vegetarian, and it has worked out just fine. It does take some planning. Where are you located?

hi i am a vegetarian also, had a gastric band in 2009 and now i am having a revision to gastric sleeve. I didn't have a problem before, but i know my Protein needs will be more now. i feel that I will not have a an issue with protein. you will be fine, there are many sources of non meat protein. Good Luck - my surgery date is June 2

wow! ijust can't imagine a world without hunger! i love food so much. i hope i can get to that point. i just never ever feel full....my stomach controls me! i'm excited to get control of my life! susan....how was it for you doing dr aceves's pre-op diet. i'm a vegetarian so i'm kind of worried. i plan on mostly eating eggs, plain yogurt, cottage cheese, regular cheese and some shrimp....although i hate fish! so many doctors recomend different things before surgery. it's really confusing. i'm worried my liver will fail the test!!! SOOOOO much to worry about!

I just posted this elsewhere. Sorry for the repetition. Besides scrambled eggs I had poached, soft boiled, hard boiled, over easy, sunny side up, deviled, essentially any way I could cook an egg I could have it. In addition, I could have mild steamed or poached fish; canned or packet tuna, salmon and chicken plain or as salad with lowfat mayo; vegetarian soy products; cooked Cereal thinned with skim milk; nonfat refried beans; nonfat yogurt without added sugar; low salt V-8 juice; unsweetened apple sauce; mashed ripe banana; skim or lowfat cottage or ricotta cheese; mashed squash, white potato, sweet potato. These were all considered a good consistency so none of it had to be pureed.

Thanks a lot for asking this question! And thanks for the advice. I think I'll stick to tofu - in soup, or braised - when I start back on solid foods. I wonder if anyone has tried seitan or wheat gluten substitutes that some Asian restaurants use in place of meat. Vegetarian restaurants use these products, also. I'm hoping these items are as easily digested.

Thank you and congrats! Great job! I have been staying low carb also. I am allowed "all foods" now also and I LOVE LOVE LOVE salads. Always have. But there isn't enough Protein in a salad. But I'll admit, I find myself ordering them often since I don't really like meat. I've never been a meat eater. I always try n pick out my chicken and eat it first. One restaurant salad will be 3-4 meals for me. But again, not the protein I'm needing. Wish I was more keen of meats. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App There are vegans and vegetarians who are post WLS. Do a search and figure out what they eat.

Slinderella, Did they give you a sheet at WLSC? Actually it is a small book. It should have a lot of different ideas about what you should be eating (or drinking) Clear liquids 100% fruit juice-no orange or grapefruit, NO punches or cocktail drinks Clear broth or Bouillon-canned cartons or gases (beef, chicken, pork or vegetable) Non-carbonated sports drinks-such as Gatorade, less than 15g of carbohydrate per serving Regular of sugar-free popsicles-no fruit ice or bars with pulp or seeds Regular or sugar free sorbet or ice-no pulp or seeds Regular or Sugar-free gelatin-any color, any flavor Regular or Sugar-free drinks-Crystal light, Kool-aid, etc coffee and tea-decaffeinated or herbal Regular or Sugar-free instant hot apple cider Sugar substitute-any color packet Non-carbonated Regular or Sugar-free flavored waters(such as Propel and Fruit2O) Protein Water such s K2O Full Liquids Skim or 1% milk* regular or sugar-free hot chocolate*-made with milk Regular or sugar-free pudding*-no pistachio fat free, no sugar added yogurt*-smooth and creamy, no chuncks hot cereal-cream of wheat, rice, oatmeal farina or malt-o-meal-must be blended cream soups or blended chicken noodle, chicken rice, turkeynoodle, vegetarian vegetavble regualr or sugar free fudge bars fat-free, regular or sugar-free frozen yogurt, ice cream vegetable juice-tomato or V-8 regular or sugar-free V-8 splash Mechanical Soft Foods Cottage cheese*-(low-fat, small curd) Mashed potatoes (instant or fresh, no skins) Crackers (low-fat saltines, graham cracker, melba toast, etc) Soups/stews*(small pieces, cooked very soft) Soft baked fish*-canned tuna, shrimp, scallops, salmon, tilapia, etc. Natural mint butters* (smooth and creamy peanut, almond, etc) Low sugar/low Fiber cereal(cheerios, rice krispies,corn flakes, special K) pureed baby foods-quick and nutritious Frozen regular or sugar-free fruit bars Tofu* Modified Regular Foods Moist baked chicken*-no skin eggs Milk, protein shakes(Advantage-for diabetics- Atkins, Curves, EAS, Glycerna, Skim fast etc.) Thinly shaved low-fat deli meats*-chicken, turkey, ham, roast beef Soft baked fish*-canned tuna, shrimp, scallops, or imitation seafood Toasted bread-whole wheat Soft fruits:fresh without skins or aned in water or natural juice, bananas, apples, peaches, pears Soft cooked Pasta and noodles Soft cooked vegetables: carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, green Beans, hominy beets (no onions, dried beans, peas, corn or gas causing vegetavbles for 3 months after surgery) Low-fat, Regular or Sugar-free yogurt with fruit* supplements Protein supplement*-recomend purchasing at least two kinds (flavored and/or plain powder or liquid) Multivitamin with iron-Vivactiv Soft Multivitamin Chew, Centrum liquid, Flintstones complete, One-A-Day Childrens Coomplete etc Calcium-Tums, Vivactiv Soft Calcium Chews Os-cal chewables, Citracal liquitabs Effervescent tabs, etc. *Good Protein Source This was taken from the list that I was given as I left the clinic. There are as many different opinions out there as there are doctors. The best advice I can give you is to do just what you are doing, ask questions. If someone doesn't have an answer they can usually find out. Also don't hesitate to ask you doctor. They want to see you succeed and are there to help you. Concentrate on letting the band heal up. I hope this helps you on your journey. Good Luck and keep us posted.

Whoops hit wrong key, well anyways i'm a vegetarian for the most part. I do like a good steak though. But that's only if we go out to eat. and that's only 1 time a month usually. Other than that i do not eat meat. I LOVE LOVE LOVE peanut butter. Can you eat peanut butter after the sleeve? I hope not... I don't need it. I was just wondering LOL!